Christie Nominates Jack Kelly For $100,000 Patronage Job: Report

Gov. Chris Christie has nominated longtime Ocean County Freeholder John P. Kelly for a six-year seat on the state Parole Board, a job that would pay Kelly $100,000 a year, according to app.com.

Kelly - who has no law enforcement background other than serving as liaison to the county law and public safety departments and no college degree - would have to resign his seat on the freeholder board if he is confirmed by the State Senate.

Kelly is paid $30,000 for serving as a freeholder. He also receives another $40,000 for various other jobs he has been appointed to over the years.

He was hired as an airport analyst at the Atlantic City Interntional Airport in 1999. Although the job description called for an undergraduate degree and five years experience in aviation Kelly had neither. He made $327,000 during his five-year stint and doubled his pension.

Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore said Lacey Mayor Gary Quinn is the front-runner to replace Kelly on the freeholder board. Quinn would have to be approved by the Ocean County Republican Committee if Kelly receives the state Senate nomination for the Parole Board.

Kelly, who receives a stipend of $30,000 for his service as a freeholder, would get a significant bump up in pay with the new job: the minimum salary of a state Parole Board member is more than $100,000.

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Photo credit: Ocean County